Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, described his sides defending as "comical" after their 4-1 defeat to Wigan in the Capital One Cup. The dire performance led to Allardyce claiming his players were "putting their West Ham careers in jeopardy" despite being unbeaten in the league in September. Winless QPR are yet to find the net at Loftus Road and goals are becoming a real problem. Bobby Zamora remains their only league goalscorer but the assistant manager Mark Bowen is "very hopeful" of a return for Adel Taarabt. Andrew Lawton

Match pointers

• Sam Allardyce and Mark Hughes have met 11 times as opposing coaches in the Premier League, with Allardyce winning two and none of the last six. This will be their first meeting though where neither has been manager of Blackburn

• Former West Ham striker Bobby Zamora has scored all of the QPR's three goals this season, from just four shots on target

• West Ham have committed more fouls than any other team in the league (75)

• QPR have won six and lost none of the last eight home games against West Ham